Josh and Ben count down their top 5 games of 2020–2026 and their lists could not be more different. One brother stacked his with AAA heavy hitters like Elden Ring, God of War Ragnarok, and Baldur's Gate 3. The other went his own way with a family platformer and a racing game in the mix.

Along the way: the controversy of The Last of Us Part 2, why Doom Eternal is pure fun in game form, whether Hogwarts Legacy deserves its spot, Resident Evil Requiem's horror perfection, and two very different picks for the top spot. Two brothers, ten games, and plenty to talk about.

Takeaways

• Diverse gaming preferences
• Gameplay experience
• Platform exclusivity Diverse gaming preferences
• Impact of storytelling on game experience Diverse genre choices
• Gameplay experience is a key factor

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Top 5 Games
• 01:16 Gaming Preferences and Genre Diversity
• 02:03 Top 5 Games: Ghost of Tsushima
• 05:36 Top 5 Games: Hogwarts Legacy
• 12:40 Top 5 Games: Astrobot
• 16:13 Top 5 Games: Baldur's Gate 3
• 20:57 Gaming Preferences and Experiences
• 21:49 The Last of Us Part 2
• 28:49 Doom Eternal
• 38:46 Gameplay Experience and Criticisms
• 46:04 The Appeal of Forza Horizon 5
• 50:44 Elden Ring: A Magnificent World

We dive into the world of Assassin's Creed, starting with the first game — its story, revolutionary gameplay mechanics, and the impact it had on the gaming industry. From there we trace the evolution of the entire series: the early challenges and frustrations, the introduction of new elements and historical settings, and how the formula changed over time. Along the way we explore the real history behind the games, the shift into RPG territory, and the controversies surrounding the series' portrayal of diverse characters.

Takeaways

• Revolutionary gameplay mechanics such as free running parkour and viewpoint synchronization.
• The historical context and storytelling of the game set a new standard for the gaming industry. Evolution of gameplay
• Impact of historical settings Evolution of Assassin's Creed
• Historical Settings and Controversies

Chapters

• 00:00 The Story of Assassin's Creed
• 17:31 Revolutionary Gameplay Mechanics
• 19:58 Historical Context and Impact
• 22:23 Early Challenges and Frustrations
• 25:22 Evolution of Gameplay and Historical Settings
• 29:31 Assassin's Creed Two and the Ezio Trilogy
• 32:10 Assassin's Creed Three and Black Flag
• 37:15 Unity, Rogue, and Syndicate
• 41:29 Evolution of Assassin's Creed
• 43:15 Historical Settings and Controversies

The conversation delves into the historical accuracy and immersive gameplay of Kingdom 2. It covers the setting, character development, combat, skill points, crafting, and the world and narrative of the game. The writing and historical accuracy are also discussed, highlighting the attention to detail and the unique experience the game offers.

Takeaways

• Historical Accuracy
• Immersive Gameplay

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Kingdom 2
• 05:58 Character and Storyline
• 12:04 Combat and Weaponry
• 18:03 World and Narrative

The conversation covers an introduction to the game Saros, understanding rogue-like gameplay, gameplay mechanics, story overview, cosmic horror elements, game length and pricing discussion, weapon variants, personal experience and game enjoyment, game difficulty and modifiers, run variability, exploration, solar eclipse mechanics, accessibility, enemy interactions, game difficulty comparison, and final thoughts and recommendation.

The conversation covers the introduction and development of Crimson Desert, the transition from MMO to single-player RPG, future projects by Pearl Abyss, initial impressions of the game, gameplay and story overview, game size and progression, AI, writing, and art in the game, controls and gameplay experience, variability and frustration in gameplay, combat and inventory management, and influences from other games. The conversation covers diverse combat and health mechanics, the game's ambition and success, varied biomes and difficulty, challenging puzzles and exploration, the game's identity and uniqueness, and the game's complexity and challenge. It emphasizes the extensive recipe system, lack of level scaling, and the intimidating yet unique experience the game offers.

Takeaways

• Transition from MMO to single-player RPG
• Influences from other games in Crimson Desert Diverse combat and health mechanics
• Extensive recipe system
• Overly ambitious game
• Massive commercial success
• Varied biomes and difficulty
• Lack of level scaling
• Challenging puzzles
• Extensive exploration
• Lack of game identity
• Intimidating yet unique experience
• Complex gameplay
• Freedom of choice and challenge

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Crimson Desert
• 05:07 Gameplay and Story Overview
• 14:44 Variability and Frustration in Gameplay
• 20:43 Combat and Health
• 26:06 Biomes and Difficulty
• 32:26 Game's Identity and Uniqueness
• 39:05 Game's Complexity and Challenge

Josh and Ben discuss Nioh 3, covering the complex gameplay mechanics and Japanese influence in the game. It delves into the unusual button combinations, gameplay difficulty, character builds, combat styles, story and setting, elemental abilities, spirit guardians, gear, and exploration. The conversation covers the incentivization of map exploration through level increases and benefits, as well as the challenging nature of boss fights that require strategy and patience to overcome.

Josh and Ben delve into the world of Warhammer 40k, exploring its lore and the gameplay mechanics of Space Brains 2. It also discusses the multiplayer experience and offers some criticisms of the game. The conversation covers the customization of space marine, gameplay mechanics and classes, and the duration and experience of the campaign. The discussion delves into the details of customizing space marine, the gameplay mechanics of different classes, and the duration of the campaign, providing insights into the overall gameplay experience.

Ben and Josh discuss the newly released game Highguard, which was showcased at the Game Awards. They share their initial impressions, highlighting the game's similarities to existing titles like Apex Legends and Fortnite. The conversation delves into gameplay mechanics, design concerns, and the importance of community feedback. They also compare Highguard to other games in the industry, emphasizing the need for developers to meet higher standards and the impact of player reception on a game's success. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of Highguard and the gaming industry as a whole.